to apply; to submit papers to ask for a job
* Heather put in applications at every coffee shop in the city, but she still hasn’t found a job.

to put in an application

to agree to give someone a job; to agree to make someone one’s employee
* The business is expanding very quickly and they had to hire more than 30 new employees last year.

to hire

the name and contact information for a person who can provide additional information, especially about someone’s qualifications or experience
* Your references should be people who are familiar with your professional work, but not family members.

reference

to say good things about someone or something; to indicate that someone is a good person or that something will be a good choic
* Will you vouch for my computer skills if I apply for that job?

to vouch

reliable, trustworthy, and good
* We’re looking for a candidate with solid experience in finance and operations.

solid

to say something good about a person or to recommend someone for an opportunity in an informal way
* You’re friends with a literary agent, right? Would you put in a good word for me and my book?

to put in a good word

words or actions that make one feel more certain that something will happen in a particular way
* Do you have any assurance that your clients will actually pay you each month?

assurance

personality; the personal characteristics that seem to be a permanent characteristic of a person, not learned over time, especially how one shows one’s emotions
* Hal has a calm temperament that helps other people relax.

temperament

one’s commitment to working hard and finishing what one has started; one’s commitment to a job or project
* Group projects are unfair, because the students with the strongest work ethic end up doing most of the work.

work ethic

at work; through experience in a particular position, not by reading about something or listening to others talk about it
* Did you learn to use this software on the job, or did you already know how to do that when you applied for the position?

on the job

a person who learns things very quickly and does not need a lot of instruction or guidance
* Even if you’re a quick study, it can take years to learn to play a musical instrument well.

quick study

to rationalize; to provide a logical reason for something; to be able to explain what has happened in a way that makes sense to oneself and others
* How can anyone justify spending $20,000 on a watch?

to justify

to choose not to have or do something because one is having or doing something else
* How can you pass up going to the concert just to stay home and study again?

to pass up

with the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge for a position or opportunity; meeting all the qualifications of something
* Once you earn your degree, you’ll be qualified to work in the best scientific laboratories in the country.

qualified

very strong praise for a person or thing; full support and recommendation for someone or something
* How could you quit your job so soon? I gave your boss my ringing endorsement so that she’d give you the job. Now she’ll never trust me again.